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    Off Alley

    3.6 (101 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Off Alley Photos

    Business Info

    OFF ALLEY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Romantic
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Off Alley

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    Gorgeous spot prawns, perfectly cooked and so flavorful
    Chi D.

    I take everyone I love here. It's just dependably good food, with excellent service, and there's almost always seating outside in their streatery. The menu changes regularly so there's always something new to enjoy. Highlights: whatever they're doing to feature foie gras (in the summer, it was buckwheat waffle; currently it is an English muffin), whatever savory pastry they are offering, and their foie gras ice cream. I also want to keep supporting this place because they pay a fair wage, built into their prices now, and their staff seem actually happy to be part of operations.

    Helen L.

    Okay, a lot to break down here. We had the tasting menu with two drinks, and it came out to be around $350. The space is super tiny, as many have expressed. We sat by the door, and our knees were touching the entire time. So I would say the seating is not the most comfortable, especially if you are taller or larger in size. I think the tasting menu was an experience; however, I don't know if it was worth the money. I think they were very creative, and the ingredients were very high-quality. However, some dishes were very small and plain. The steak we had was the best part of our meal and I would easily pay $60-$70 just for that dish but everything else was just OK. I would recommend to go and try the à la cart, but I don't think the tasting menu is worth it . For example, one of the dishes we had in the tasting menu was a bun with a rabbit kidney in it, but there is a dish on the menu that is a piece of bread with at least over 10 pieces of rabbit kidney on it and it was $14. It's still a must try and I would go back again for a la cart menu.

    Beef Tendon Onion soup - beef tendon was super soft!
    Kathleen C.

    We enjoyed our meal here! It's a small restaurant with counter seating only for 10ish people. Make reservations via texting. The menu items rotate through. They're small sharing plates, less of your regular proteins and more organ meats. Most of the plates were unique and well prepared. The grilled octopus with smoked cabbage - octopus was normal good but the smoked cabbage was done so nicely, like best cabbage ever (which is wild because it seems like a basic ingredient). The beef tendon in the onion soup was soo soft. I normally don't like tendon because of the texture but enjoyed this one. Monkfish liver is good (as it is in Japanese restaurants too), but my only thing with it is, it was $46! It's a bit hefty imo and the unique part of it was that it was in a good crab broth. My least favorite is the rabbit kidney, not that it's not prepared well but it's probably just not an ingredient I like as much, ok to try once. We spent $210 with tax and tip for 6 items. Overall, good meal, on the pricier side. Would come back when the menu items rotate through again.

    Amadea N.

    Look, I feel bad. Mostly for the chef. A friend strongly recommended this place and said he was friends of the chef. I read briefly online and saw it RECENTLY titled in so many awards so I immediately booked. Every dish tasted good in principal, and the chef nailed all his cooks. From the fish to the meat to the pear at the end. The chef is great and deserves all the awards. He's simply just outgrown the restaurant as a whole. The place is uncomfortable and has no ambience, the scale of the restaurant probably forces them to increase the prices and reduce the portions (For $670USD spent for 3, we were all still hungry). The night before, we had Eden Hill for the same price and were so full AND had a bottle of $100 wine. Food aside, mandatory tip of 20% is probably reflective of the bad service. The chef himself was great, but our waiter was condescending at times and other guests were also whispering about his attitude. So of course, mandatory tip because we surely would've tipped much less.

    Frankie K.

    It's always great food and a great time! Their menu changes often, so you will never experience the same menu twice. They are VERY creative in their dishes, and they always surprise you with their flavors. I was super shocked and amazed by their ham & melon sorbet, so delicious! We always do the tasting menu, and it's a great experience! The place is smaller but means more intimate! My boyfriend and I love Off Alley and the owners! Highly recommend Off Alley and their chef's tasting menu!

    Jenny L.

    Very small space, so text to make reservations before you go. You will be sitting next to each other and not across due to the space constraints. Ordered a variety of things to try: Oysters - this was very good flavor wise and went well with the plum sauce Beef tendon w/ matsutake - I kind of wish the matsutake was cooked down a little. It provided earthy flavor, but the tendon was very bland as well so needed an element of flavor....maybe salt. Foie gras w/ pig feet - foie was rich and delicious, but needed something to cut the fat as the pigs feet was super gelatinous and fatty tasting as well. The cherry was way too sour in not a great way. Black cod - perfectly cooked, but felt like the black garlic sauce overpowered the delicate fish. Braised endive w/ pear - this dish was delicious in every way and the cheesy cream sauce was smoky and perfect. Bread and butter - one of the few carb options on the menu, but not sure it was worth $8 as you can get the same bread a few doors down at Columbia City Bakery. I would pass on the cocktails. None of us liked any of ours and it felt super watered down. Solid 3.5 stars, but rounded up for good service.

    Black cod, corn, smelt roe
    Isabel C.

    My friend (who lives in Seattle) suggested we try Off Alley as it had received high praise from several news outlets. I'm from Vancouver where the food scene is quite prominent so my expectations for this place were high. Off Alley boasts an innovative and creative daily changing menu so I am not sure if I just came on the wrong day but my experience was far from good and my entire party and I left disappointed. Upon arrival, the restaurant lives up to its name as it is literally in the shape of an alley. Seating is tight and limited and there is no A/C so we immediately felt stuffy and hot but were determined not to let that affect our perception of the dining experience. The menu is handwritten daily which gives it a rustic personal touch. It was suggested to order everything on the menu but it seemed much so we left a few items out. Chilled tomato soup This was a good start with nice deep flavours but the portion size to cost ratio was tragic. (No picture attached as we got a bit excited.) Whipped lardo toast To my understanding, the fattiness of the whipped lardo was to be cut by the ramps but there was too much of a sour taste from the pickled vegetable that I couldn't really taste anything besides a hint of creamy smoked pork followed by straight vinegar in my mouth. Fresh cheese dumpling Our whole party actually liked the deep savoury flavours of the broth that the dumplings were soaked in but I would say the dumpling itself was not for me. Also to charge $19 for 3 small dumplings.... Zucchini with cured pork jowl There was virtually no flavour in the zucchini mixed in a pool of oil which I assume was supposed to pair with the salty cured flavour of the pork jowl. The jowl was cut paper thin to the point where it was basically transparent. The server even mentioned that it was a very specific and special type of farmed pig. If it's so special, why am I only getting a paper slice of it? Fatty tuna belly on brioche Fatty tuna belly, excellent! Brioche, also excellent! Eating them together wouldn't be my first choice but at the least, both components tasted good. Dungenesss crab in eel broth I just feel sad when I think about this dish because this little bowl (smaller than a miso soup bowl at a Japanese restaurant) cost a whopping $34 and tasted....upsetting. Putting it in eel broth did not do it justice at all. It clashed and there was no umami flavour. 0/4 members of my party enjoyed this dish. Black cod with smelt roe and corn I liked the corn! Snails with popover and caramelized onion Snails were very yummy in the caramelized onion sauce - the popover however was just not for me. This is just a personal preference. One of my friends really liked this dish and felt that the flavours and textures were very fulfilling! Tripe with matsutake and duck crackling I love tripe. It's a staple ingredient in a lot of Asian cuisines and I especially enjoy it in dim sum and noodle soups. I know tripe has a very distinct flavour but this dish carried its distinct flavour in all the wrong ways. It especially brought out its gamey flavour but when paired with the mushroom, it left a horrible aftertaste. The crunchy duck bits on top left my mouth overwhelmed with weird tastes and textures. 0/4 members of my party enjoyed this dish. Pork schnitzel with country gravy At this point, I prayed things would get better. This dish at the least, helped delete the lingering taste of the tripe in my mouth. However, I was once again confused at how an innovative and creative cuisine produced what seemed to be a thinly fried and breaded piece of pork (with barely any pork it in) with some creamy white minced pork sauce on top. I know pork schnitzels are pounded thin but all I tasted was breading. Nonetheless, I still liked this way more than some of the other dishes. Seared fois gras with buckwheat waffle and berries + fois gras ice cream Thank goodness we finished on a decent note. This is a sweet and savoury dish that won the approval of half our party. The berry compote went well with the waffle and the fattiness of the fois gras. The ice cream was also surprisingly pleasant! When the bill came, we were perplexed. Yes, running a restaurant is not cheap and workers deserve more than a fair wage I am all for it. Dining is also a luxury and not a necessity. However, I struggled to understand how these clumsily slapped-together dishes became $80 per person. (After the currency exchange, I died inside.) Besides the food, I also did not feel any particular sincerity or warmth from any of the serving staff. Understandably, this is not an advertised fine dining restaurant so I didn't expect high-end service. However, if your food is so inconsistently good and you charge 20% auto grat at least make up for it with a smile on your face.

    Artichoke, Croutons, Fried Sweetbreads
    Wendi K.

    Such a unique dining experience. I'm happy I went with someone who is a regular! Unassuming neighborhood bar.Very small (about 12 bar seats + some patio seating), so you WILL wait. Rotating menu with creative items (both food and drink) you will not find anywhere else. Nice touches like hand-made dishware and hand written menus. Ordered a series of drinks and the following Small plates: Air Cured Wagyu ($18) Sweetbreads, Morels ($21) Raw Amberjack, Fried Sweetbreads ($21) Fried Pig feet, Seared Foie Gras ($22) Raw Sole & Eel Cream ($17) Bread & Butter ($8) Pistachio & Black Sesame Ice Cream ($6.5) We were sat at an outdoor patio table booth with two other lovely strangers (now friends :) ) The staff is chill and no bullsh*t.

    First of two selections (3/18/23)
    Marie B.

    I was out wandering and enjoying the mild, sunny weather on this particular late Saturday afternoon. Meandering from north to south, I ended up in Seattle's Columbia City neighborhood and my first spontaneous visit to Off Alley (3/18/23). I was able to find street parking and joined five others waiting by the entrance for the 5pm opening time. I didn't have a reservation, but was offered to sit al fresco at their sidewalk parklet with the knowledge other parties may share tables. Their unique configuration has limited indoor seating, so pro tip - make advance reservations if indoor seating is a must. The sun was setting, the wind had picked up, and thankfully I was dressed in layers for the short period I was seated outdoors with another couple. I passed on any wine or cocktails and was encouraged to at least order three items. I started with Dungeness crab bisque with savory clams ($22). Next I decided on the Black Cod with fennel and celery root ($17). I opted to stick with just two and not three items. Service was efficient. The dishes I ordered had amazing flavor. Simply amazing and makes you wanting more. I can understand why all the kudos and buzz about Off Alley. However, given today's culinary scene and working hard for the opportunity to dine out, the serving sizes were a bit small for the price. That being said, give it a whirl to dazzle your palate. Just go into it knowingly with reservations made and that it'll cost you.

    Menu of the day
    Eva M.

    To eat at Off-Alley, planning ahead is a must. There are only 12 seats along a counter in a narrow alley, literally, no joke! Their website is very clear about how to get a reservation. Because of the size and physical constraints of the venue, I don't recommend this place for group gatherings. Also note that they are very strict on a time-limit of 1.5 hrs for 2 people, and a max of 2 hrs for larger size parties. Again, this is to-be-expected given the venue size. As for the food, because they change their menu daily and the menu is small, every visit is a new adventure. Bring some flexibility and a sense of wonder to try new flavors. We were suggested to order four to five dishes to share, which is fairly standard. The service was great, minus one thing. Our server answered our questions about the dishes and didn't push for additional orders. She did make a mistake and didn't tell us about the dessert menu. Turns out the most popular dish requires a 25 min pre-order, and the kitchen instead declined our order after she convinced us of its awesomeness. (We would have exceeded 1.5 hrs dining time.) That was disappointing. Gratuity is set at 20%. Despite the mistake, I thought it was well earned. The Food: Brussels Sprouts, Garlic Anchovy, Smoked Cheese, $13.50 - 5 Stars I never knew an anchovy sauce can taste this good. You really can taste the anchovy, but it is not at all fishy or weird. Smoked Salmon, Goat's Cheese, Salmon Roe, Grilled Bread, $18 - 4 Stars For the salmon lover, this is a must. We ordered extra bread as it is a bit too salty to eat by itself, but it's perfect with the bread. Black Cod, Chanterelles, Garlic Croutons, $18.50 - 5+ Stars!!! This was the BEST dish of the night. Absolutely perfectly seared black cod. I have never tasted croutons so perfect. I should have ordered one more! Beef Tongue, Hatch Pepper, Onions, $16.50 - 4 Stars The hatch peppers are made into a thick sauce. The combination of the sauce with the greens, the pickled onions become an excellent flavor profile. However, I personally like the beef tongue with more sear. This method yields an earthier flavor. Spider Steak, Beef Tendon Pot Pie, with added Seared Foie Gras on top, $24 + $24 - 5 Stars The photo is close-up, so the little pot is maybe 3" diameter. The crust is perfection, the beefy sauce and ingredients are perfection. The foie gras is indulgence.

    Crab bisque
    Michael S.

    Preface: I'm a reasonably logical person, so I don't understand why people are leaving two and three star reviews along the lines of "hated the service but loved the food" -- if you read the reviews ahead of time (and know you're in for a 12-person seating with a small wait staff), why would you still show up and complain about the service? You want a different kind of restaurant service, go somewhere else. Makes zero sense. Intro: Came here with my wife for a birthday dinner on Sunday, with prix fixe menu. Showed up about 10min early, waited outside until 7p while they finished setting up. (Bonus, they sat us in the middle, between the door and kitchen.) Service: Everyone was attentive and very friendly and we had a great time at dinner. One nit, at one point I wanted to ask our waiter Carl something, but he was tied up for 3-4min because some randos had come in from outside to ask if the restaurant had an open seat (could clearly see 'no') and then peppered Carl with questions about the restaurant, aesthetic, reservations, etc etc.... In one sense I appreciated his patience and dedication to taking care of (potential) customers -- but to the randos, cmon guys, read the room, and the sign outside ("have you checked the website?") Menu: Outside the restaurant was a menu, but it turned out that was the "add on" menu you could add to your order. They told us the menu was hearty, and so recommended we only get the beef tendon, and skipped grilled oysters, waygu ribeye, cheese, and bread. We ordered a bottle of wine -- wanted a red and tried their recommendation of a vin rouge grolleaux (which we had never had before), and it was fine but don't think we'd have it again. First courses: Fritter w aioli, Mixed winter greens m, Crab bisque w croche red bowl. All were very good, my favorite were the winter greens which were served with a light sauce, good texture, very well balance flavor. Finished all of them. Beef tendon: This was our one add-on, and it was just as promised. The tendon melted in your mouth, and the broth paired nicely with the mushrooms. It wasn't too heavy, which set us up nicely for their showstopper... Main course: Shepherd's pie with lamb. The chef came by to explain the lamb was actually not literally a baby, it was a 2.5yr old ewe from San Juan Island, but the way it was raised and cooked, it was as tender as a lamb (and not as tough as mutton). The flavors and balance with the potato and garlic (he mentioned some special new vegetable someone grew) made it probably the best shepherds pie I'd had, and it was just an incredible dish. We finished most of it, and took the last quarter home (which, heated up and was amazing the next day). For context re: the wagyu beef: the people on both our sides got it, and it looked amazing, but by the time the shepherds pie came out, they were all pretty full and could barely touch the shepherds pie. Dessert: the prix fixe came with a tart that was really light and well-balanced, but for me the winner was the rye custard. It was just incredibly well done, the mix of berry plus custard (not too thick / viscous) plus the rye crunch on top.... The chef said it's been on the menu for three years because they like making it so much, and I hope it sticks around. Dessert wine: we asked for a port, and they gave us Vino cotto stravecchio. Another amazing find, not too syrupy, does not taste too strong, will look to add this at home. Had a great meal! Loved the aesthetic, loved the vibe, trusted the chef on the menu (literally had no idea what it would be) and he did amazing. Would go back and bring friends.

    Specialty cocktails that hit the spot
    Rj M.

    Weather was playing nice and so date night must happen! Not kidding, this is a hallway turned into a restaurant... no joke. Freaking WORLD CLASS!! Whole animal cooking and local fresh ingredients, passion, and attention to every little detail. Overall the staff were fantastic, the chef and his team are fun to watch and listen to. Servers were hit and miss a bit, but one person doesn't make for a bad night honestly or may have just been an off night for the one and only sourpuss. It's really amazing for so many reasons thank you all at Off Alley you are very special people doing really awesome things. Can't wait to come back soon. Cheese Dumpling Crab Bisque

    Brussel sprouts with smoked cheese, garlic and anchovies
    Mitchell V.

    Ignore the complainers. When something is this good, there seems to be a want to tear it down. How about you don't come as a party of 8 to a 12 seater restaurant towards the end of service? Dummies, the lot of them. "This doesn't taste like San Sebastián..." where does the restaurant advertise itself as a Basque joint? I used to live in Madrid, does that mean I'm Spanish? People are thick. On to the restaurant. It's simply incredible. I'm not trying to brag but I've done quite a few Michelin star places (just last month!) in Spain this year and I've also done the heavy hitters in Mexico City earlier in the year. Off Alley was the best meal of the year for me. The service is awesome, they're thoughtful and give appreciated advice. Oh yeah, they're real people too, not some fake TGI Friday's tryin to be your best friend style service. There's banter and laughs to be had. The whole evening was an experience from start to finish. The menu is constantly changing but one thing that doesn't is the Brussels sprouts with smoked cheese, garlic and anchovies. This dish is perfection. As the night goes on, they run out of certain dishes and they're nixed on the chalk board. Due to a small number of seats and small amount of ingredients, their ability to quality control is exactly what you want. Where else are you gonna get perfectly poached Brussels sprout leaves with a buttery, garlicky, anchovy sauce that isn't over cooked and seeping butter as the sauce is broken? That's the type of quality control they can offer. Tuna belly was fun. The amberjack with kumquats was bright and oh so good. Cheese dumpling with forest mushrooms tasted like winter manifested itself on a plate. Sweetbreads we're perfectly cooked with a wonderful sage and squash sauce to dip. The pigs foot compounded into a croquette of sorts with foie gras and seared apples was possibly the best dish I've eaten all year. The pain perdu with foie gras ice cream blew our minds. Wine pours are smaller but that's great cuz they're less expensive and it allows you to move along with your meal as things get hardier. You need to come here. After stuffing myself in Europe recently, we're truly blessed to have a restaurant like this in our city. Can't wait to come back.

    Popcorn sweetbreads with delicata squash and sage honey butter

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    fantastic menu every night. What an extremely talented group of people in the kitchen!!! Is truly an experience like no other!!!!!

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    Ask the Community - Off Alley

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    3.9(165 reviews)
    1.6 miGeorgetown

    I was here for a work party and loved the food. Upon exploring the website, we saw their Nonnakase…read moreoption and decided to splurge on a reservation when we had family in town. BEST IDEA EVER. It was legitimately one of the best dinners I have ever had. There were 9 courses total, and everything the chef brought out was incredible. The service was wonderful and personal and attentive from the chef to the bartender to the wine director. So while I already would recommend this place to any serious fan of Italian cuisine, I cannot speak highly enough of the Nonnakase experience. Absolutely worth every penny. Also the bathrooms are delightful. Great vibe, don't miss out.

    My wife loves this place because they make their noodles from scratch, or so they say. I was super…read morestoked to try this place....again. And then I recalled why I didn't want to come back from the first experience. First, the location is unique, and I really appreciate that this business is trying to keep Georgetown alive with cool quirky places to eat. This def fits the bill. But, I couldn't help but notice the political statement taped to the front window, super classy. I dine out to escape my day. I don't need it thrown in my face at dinner. Next, when the menus were brought to us, it was for their 3 course restaurant week special. $50 per person, and there are two choices per course. My family all chose what we wanted and then waited for the meal. Like previous reviewers, the wine is brought out in oversized shot glasses not really, but might as well be). I get that in Italy, dinner wine (peasant fare) is served in cups, not stemware, but $18 for mediocre wine, I'd like to see a more appropriate pour. Lamb Polpettine was essentially lamb meatballs on a cold and very loose polenta with what was described as salsa diavola, but it was essentially a chunky red sauce. There was nothing about this that wowed us. In fact, it was pretty bland overall and underwhelming. But the manner in which you are greeted and served at the restaurant and the remainder of service, you would think it was going to change how you felt about food. I don't even want to go into the salad. Again, underwhelming. The mains came out and although tasty, the portions were very small compared to the price we paid. And if you opt for the truffle, it's finely grated and it covers the entire plate. Also, it's an extra $12......for less than $2 worth of black truffle. It absolutely ruined the dish. An educated server would be able to caution against it, if, of course it wasn't intended to raise the final price, essentially raising the tip. If you order risotto there, be fair warned, it is extremely loosed and not very well made imo. Bland, lacks imagination, and the rice grains were cracked and soggy on the ends and crunchy in the middle.. Last was the dessert. Again, it was tasty, but it comes in these tiny jars that equal about 2-3 spoonfuls of either panna cotta, or tiramisu. At the end of our meal, the bill was over $250. For that price, I could have eaten somewhere where I could have left a little more satisfied and felt like I was actually in an upscale restaurant, not a political statement masquerading as fine dining. Having worked food for a long time, I felt obligated to leave the customary 20% gratuity knowing full well the workers there made their "living wage" before the gratuity kicks in. It included an additional 2% to pay for employee health insurance. Isn't that an employer cost? Why put that on the check? Anyway, out the door for $300 and vowing never to come back. Buyer beware.

    Photos
    Mezzanotte - Bar

    Bar

    Mezzanotte - Bucatini All' Amatriciana - IG: @nelson_eats

    Bucatini All' Amatriciana - IG: @nelson_eats

    Mezzanotte - Bucatini All' Amatriciana - IG: @nelson_eats

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    Bucatini All' Amatriciana - IG: @nelson_eats

    Geraldine's Counter - French toast (with peaches)

    Geraldine's Counter

    4.3(1.7k reviews)
    0.0 miColumbia City
    $$

    Love this place! It's clear how great it is by the line that exists every hour of every day they…read moreare open! The service is always great, and the inside is small but very cosy and well kept. I had the special, ricotta, lemon, pancakes, as well as the Emerald City scramble, sub avocado for pork sausage. Highly recommend! Their ingredients are always fresh, and, honestly, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Check them out!

    I came here for breakfast around 8:15am and the inside was already packed!…read more I sat at the high top table and waited for about 20 minutes for my food. I ordered the Slammin breakfast style plate with hot water, subbed out pancakes for French toast. The French toast was delicious along with the fresh cut strawberries! The sausage and egg tastes great. My only wish would be that there were more strawberries and my mug was a little dirty. Service was awesome, all the servers were so kind! The only problem I ran into was that they don't accept Apple Pay!! I find it a bit absurd because I noticed they have one of those tablets that should accept Apple Pay. One of the kind servers did inform me there's an ATM across the street but I found that a little crazy. I asked the people next to me if I could borrow their card but then they also don't even accept Amex!

    Photos
    Geraldine's Counter - Inside the restaurant

    Inside the restaurant

    Geraldine's Counter - BLTA

    BLTA

    Geraldine's Counter - Corned beef hash with poached eggs, sub toast for biscuit (extra)

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    Corned beef hash with poached eggs, sub toast for biscuit (extra)

    Off Alley - wine_bars - Updated May 2026

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